Eagles lose starting receiver to torn ACL

PHILADELPHIA — Jeremy Maclin tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee during Saturday’s practice. It is an injury that will cost the 25-year-old wide receiver the season and will leave the Eagles trying to fill the void left by the loss of a productive starter just two days into camp.

Maclin collapsed during noncontact 7-on-7 drills. He was helped to a cart after being examined on the turf for about five minutes. Coach Chip Kelly and general manager Howie Roseman turned from watching practice to monitoring Maclin while he was on the ground. Other players, including Michael Vick and Jason Avant, went over to check on him.

A towel covered Maclin’s face while he lay with his right foot extended on the cart, concealing the agony Maclin no doubt was experiencing. He tore the same ACL as a freshman at Missouri in 2006, and has dealt with injuries throughout his four seasons with the Eagles.

The injury is especially devastating because Maclin, who was entering the final year of his contract, was expecting the best season of his career. A first-round pick who has been a four-year starter with the Eagles, the 6-foot, 198-pound receiver has been a consistent contributor although he never exceeded 1,000 receiving yards in a season. He has more catches through his first four years than any player in Eagles history.

OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Baltimore Ravens tight end Dennis Pitta dislocated his hip in practice and will be sidelined indefinitely with what coach John Harbaugh called “a serious injury.”

Pitta was carted off the field after colliding with safety James Ihedigbo in the back of the end zone. Pitta lay prone for several minutes before the cart arrived.

The Ravens begin defense of their Super Bowl title Sept. 5 in Denver. Pitta will at least miss that game, Harbaugh said, but the severity of the injury could keep the tight end out for much longer than that. ESPN.com reported Pitta will need surgery and will miss the season.

Notes

• Cleveland Browns offensive tackle Ryan Miller suffered a concussion during a blocking drill in practice, an injury that shook his teammates. Miller, who is in his second season with Cleveland, was carted from the field and taken by ambulance to the Cleveland Clinic, where he was released after three hours. Coach Rob Chudzinski said Miller did not injure his neck.

• Dallas Cowboys coach Jason Garrett dodged questions on whether Tony Romo would play in the exhibition opener. On Friday, the team’s flagship radio station quoted Garrett as saying the Hall of Fame game against Miami next Sunday was “not going to be Tony’s game.”

• Oakland Raiders receiver Andre Holmes was suspended for the first four games of the season for violating the NFL policy on performance-enhancing substances.

• Carolina Panthers rookie guard Edmund Kugbila was carted to the locker room after injuring his right hamstring. Coach Ron Rivera said the extent of the injury is unclear.

• Houston Texans running back Arian Foster is still recovering from a right calf strain but said he feels good and shouldn’t be out of camp much longer.